Switch mechanism



Dec. 24, 1929. F. E. FREERS SWITCH MECHANISM I Filed Sept. 7, 1928Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v FIRED E. FREEBS, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 KELLOGG SWITCHBOABD AND SUPPLY COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS swrrcn iancnamsmApplication filed September 7, 1928. Serial No. 304,588.

My invention relates to tuning couplers or transformers used in radioreceiving systems, and has to do more particularly with tuning couplersor transformers in which the inductance of one of the windings of thetransformer is varied in steps by means of a "switch arrangement and anobject of my invention resides in a novel method of construction andarrangement of parts and the 19 operation of the same.

A feature of my invention resides in the multiple control arrangement ofsuch devices and in the construction and control of the apparatus bywhich the inductances of thecsecondaries of the transformers or conplersof a multiple arrangement are varied in steps through the agency of awiper and contact arrangement and in which the wipers associated withthe several inductunces of the 29 multiple arrangement are controlled bymeans of a single control arrangement.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of an improved wipershaft bear ing in whiclrspring means is provided to prevent longitudinalmovement of the shafts upon which the wipers of the multiple wiperarrangement are supported and also prevent the wipers associated withthe member controlling the movement of the multiple arrangement frombeing moved out of their normal path of travel as the shaft controllingthe movement of the wipers moves the same from one contact set to thenext.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of adjustable means topermit the alignment of the operating shaft of the control member andthe wiper supporting shaft.

Still another feature of my invention is the provision of adjustablemeans to permit the adjustment of the spring which in association with aball bearing controls the snap action of the contact wiper arms as theymove from one contact set to the next.

The above features as well as others not specifically pointed out willbe more fully described in detail in the following specification and fora more complete understand ing of my invention reference may be had tothe accompanying drawings in which like.

means which controls the wi ers that engage contacts associated withtaps romsecondaries of the transformers and,

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary disassembled perspective view of the stubshaft, and hearing for the shaft and the spring means for preventinglongitudinal movement of the same.

Referring now more in detail to my invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing the switching mechanism of the same is associatedwith a pair of transformers T and T comprising stator tubes 2 and 3.Mounted within the stator tubes 2 and 3 are rotatable .rotor tubes orelements 4and 5 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The stator tubes orelements 2 and 3 are mounted upon a base board 6 by U shaped brackets 7which are provided with angular extensions 7 These angular extensions 7are provided with tapped orifices and screws 8 pass through suitableorifices in the stator tubes 2 and 3' and have threaded engagement withthe tapped orifices in the respective angular extensions 7 of the Ushaped brackets 7 to secure them to the same. The brackets 7 whichsupport thestator tubes or elements 2 and 3 are in turn secured to thebaseboard 6 by suitable screws. The rotor tubes or elements 4 and 5 aresupported on a rod 9 of suitable insulating material and may be rotated90 degrees or until they are at right angles to the axis of the statortubes 2 and 3. The stators 2 and 3 support suitable windings (not'shownin the drawing) which are tapped and these taps are joined to contacts10 mounted upon panels 11 and 12. The contacts 10 of each panel arearranged in an arc of a circle and a double Wiper arm W comprisingwipers 13 and 14 is adapted to wipe over the contacting ends of itsrespective groups of contacts 10.

While I have illustrated but two transmoved corres formers T and T it isto be understood that any number may be provided, and the wiper arms W,associated with the contacts 10 may be multiple controlled and adaptedto be nding distances simultaneous 1 so that the lnductances of thetransformers and T may be varied by placing different numbers of turnsin circuit. By usin a multiple control device the same num er of turnswill be used on each coil and thus eflicient results will be obtained. a

The panel ll associated with the trans former T is located forvard ofthe stator element 2 and is secured to the integrally formed angularextensions 15 and 16 of the U shaped bracket 7 by means of screws 17which as throu h orifices 18 in the panel 11 and have threa edengagement with tapped orifices 19 in the extensions 15 and 16.Additional securing means for the panel 11 in the form of brackets 20are secured to the panel 11 by means of rivets 21 and are provided withintegrally formed pin members 22 which extend through orifices 23 in thestator tube 2 to rigidly secure the upper portion of the panel 11 aainst movement.

A bushing 25 has a reduced portion 26 which extends through a suitableorifice 27 in the panel 11. A collar 28 fits over the protruding end ofreduced portion 26 and the end of the portion 26 is upset or spun overto secure collar 28 in place and thus retain bushing 25 in the orifice27. Extending through a central orifice 29 in the bushing 25 is a stubshaft 30 the protruding end of which is cut away at one side to form a Dshaped portion having a flat face 32. The D shaped end of shaft 30extends into a D shaped orifice 33 in one end of a bushing 34 and protrudes into a circular orifice 35 in the other end of the bushing 34.The protruding formed end of the stub shaft 30 extending into thecircular orifice 35 of the bushing 34 is staked over or upset to securethe bushing 34 to the stub shaft 30.

The wipers 13 and 14 of the contact wiper arm W are provided withsubstantially circular portions 13 and 14 which are provided with D.shaped orifices 36 of a size to fit over the D shaped end of the shaft30 and are positioned thereon between the bushing 34 secured to theshaft 30 and a washer 37 supported on the shaft 30 between the circularportion 14' of the wiper 14 and the collar 28 on the bushing 25.

A shaft 38 extends through an orifice 39 in the front anel 40 into thecircular orifice 35 in the bus 'ng 34. A set screw 41 having threadedengagement with a suitable tapped orifice in the bushing 34 engages thisshaft 30 to rigidly secure the same in the said bushing 34. It isreadily apparent that as the shaft 38 is turned through the'medium of ab suitable knob secured to shaft 38 the bushing 34 and the stub shaft 30to which the said bushing 34 is secured and the wipers 13 and 14 whichare supported on the stub shaft 30 are rotated as a whole causing thefree ends 13 and 14 of the Wipers 13 and 14 to engage the opposite facesof the successive contacts 10. An arm 42 is secured to the bushing 34 inany suitable manner and is also rotated for purposes which will bepresently described.

A bracket 45 is secured to the panel 11 by means of the screws 17 whichpass throug suitable orifices 46 in the upturned ears 47 formed integralwith the bracket 45 and orifices 18 in the panel 11 and have threadedengagement with the topped orifices 19 in the angular extensions 15 and16 of the bracket 7. The bracket 45 is provided with an upwardlyextending portion 46 provided with an orifice 46' which serves as abearing .for the shaft 38 and the bushing 25 serves as a bearing for thestub shaft 30 when it is rotated through the agency of the shaft 38 asjust described.

To center the free ends 13 and 14 of the wipers 13 and 14 on contacts 10and also to produce a snap action as the wipers 13 and 14 pass from onecontact 10 to the next the arm 42 is provided with a downwardly extendedportion 50 provided in its arcuate shaped edge with a plurality ofnotches 51 equal in number to the contacts 10 secured to the panel 11.The bracket 45, secured to the panel 11 as already described, isprovided with an orifice 52 adapted to receive a ball bearing 53. A leafspring 54 secured at one end to the bottom face of the bracket 45 hasits free end engaging the ball bearing 53 to maintain the same inengagement with the notches 51 in the arcuate shaped edge of theextended portion 50 of the arm 42. As the shaft 38 is rotated the arm 42is also rotated causing a tooth formed by two adjacent notches .51 toengage the ball bearing 53 and force it down against the tension of theleaf spring 54 and as the arm 42 continues its rotation the tooth 55passes the ball bearing 53 which is forced into the next notch 51 underthe influence of the leaf spring 54 to produce a snap action as thewipers 13 and 14 pass from one contact 10 to the next.

A washer made of suitable spring metal fits overthe stub shaft 30between the enlarged end 30' and the bushing 25. The washer 60 isprovided with three integrally formed angularly disposed fingers 61equally spaced around its peripheral edge which engage an annularbeveled edge 25 of the bushing 25. WVhen the parts are assembled on thestub shaft 30 as just described the securing of the bushing 34 to thestub shaft 30 places the fingers 61 under slight tension and thistension takes up any play that may exist etween wipers 13 and 14 andWasher 37 which rest between the respective ends of the bushings 25 and34 on the stub shaft 30 to prevent longitudinal movement of the stubshaft in the bushing 25.

As before described, the wipers 13 and 14 of the contact arm W are movedfrom one contact 10 to the next through the agency of the connectingshaft 38. There is a natural tendency, as the operator actuates thelever secured, to the shaft 38 to rotate the wipers 13 and 14, to applypressure causing the stub shaft 30 and bushing 34 secured thereto to beforced inward. Without the construction as above described, should anyplay exist in the stub shaft 30 due to the faulty assembly, this inwardmovement of the stub shaft 30 would cause the wipers 13 and 14 as theytravel'over the successive contacts 10 to be moved out of their normalplane or path of travel thus causing the free ends 13 and 14 thereof toengage the respective faces 'of the contacts 10 with unequal pressure.The washer 60 obviates this possibility. 7

Owing to slightin'aceuracies in assembly the orifice 46 in the extensionI 46 of the bracket 45 through which the shaft 38 extends and theorifice 35 in the bushing 34 into which the shaft 38 extends are notalways inalignment. The integrally formed ears 47 which provide meansfor securing the bracket 45 to the anel 11 are provided with clearanceholes 46 t rough which the screws 17 which secure the same thereto passand provide means whereby the bracket may be adjusted to permit thealignment of the shaft 38 relative to the stub shaft 30.

An adjustable bracket support provides additional means for alignin therespective orifices 46 and 35 for the sha t 38. The support comprises athreaded stud 72 whichvis suitably secured to the bracket 45 and extendsdownwardly therefrom through a suitable orifice 7 3 in the sub-base 6.Nuts 74 having threaded engagement with the stud 72 provide means foradjusting the bracket 45 to ali the orifices 46 and 35 and also preventthe shaft 38 from being forced out of alignment relative to the stubshaft 30 should downward pressure he accidentally applied to the shaft38. A nut 75 having threaded engagement with the upper intermediateportion of the stud 72 secures the leaf spring 54 associated with theball bearing 53 to the bracket 45.

An adjustable screw 7 6' having threaded engagement with a suitabletapped orifice 77 in the bracket 45v is provided at its lower end with areduced portion 78 which is received by notch 79 forming part of thekeyhole slot 80 in leaf spring 54. The circular portion of slot 80 is asize to receive the screw end, When the reduced portion 78 of the screwis positioned in notch 79 the screw 76 may be rotated to increase ordecrease the tension of the leaf spring 54 and when proper tension isobtained, a lock nut 82 associated with the screw 76 locks the same inits adjusted position. With spring 54 at its proper tension the contactarm W will have the proper snap action as the wipers 13 and .14 movefrom one contact 10 to the next.

The wipers 85 and 86 associated with the wiper arm W of the transformerT are rotatably supported in a manner similar to that described inconnection with the wipers 13 and 14. 'A bushing 87 is secured to thepanel 12, the same as bushing 25 previously described and is providedwith a central orifice which receives a stub shaft 88. The stub shaft 88is provided with a fiat portion and wipers 85 and 86 and arm 89 areprovided with D shaped orifices to permit the same to he slipped overthis end of the stub shaft 88. The end of the shaft 88 is spun or stakedover to secure the wipers 85 and 86 and arm 89 thereto and a washersimilar to washer 60 is also provided and is associated with the stubshaft 88 and is for the same purpose as before described in connectionwith stub shaft 30.

A link 91 provided with a bifurcated end is associated with the free endof each of the arms 42 and 89. The bifurcated ends straddle the arm endsand are pivotally securedthereto by means of pivot pins 92. Each link isprovided with an orifice 93 which receives a ent that when the shaft 38is operated through the agency of a suitable actuating knob orleversecured thereto the arm 42 is rotated and through the agency of rod94 and links 91 which connect the arms 42 and 89 movement of the arm 42is transmitted to the arm 89 to cause them to move in unison. A pair ofstop pins 95' secured to the panel 1]. limit the movement of the contactarms W and W, the stop pins 95 being engaged by the re ective edges ofthe depending portion 50 o the arm 42.

L shaped terminals 96 and 97 are secured to the respective panels 11 and12. The terminals and 101 are integrally formed with the wipers 13, 14and 85, 86 of the contact arms W and W. The flexible leads 98 and 99join the terminals 96 and 97 to the terminals 160 and 101 respectively.External conductors are secured to the L shaped terminals 96 and 97 andthrough the agency of the flexible leads 98 and 99 current is carried tothe wipers.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited tothe exact structure shown but ropose to cover all such changes and mocations as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 7

Having described my invention, what I States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a stubshaft su ported by said panel, a control shaft, a brac et secured tosaid panel and rovided with an orifice through which sai control shaftextends, a bushing secured to said stub shaft, an orifice in said.bushing adapted to receive said con-' trol shaft-and means adjustably suporting said bracket for aligning the said orifices in said bracket andsaid bushing.-

2. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a stubshaft rotatably supported by said anel, a control shaft, a bracketsecured to sai panel and provided with an orifice through which saidcontrol shaft extends, a bushing secured to said stub shaft, an orificein said bushing adapted to receive said control shaft to connect thesame with said stub shaft and means adjustably supporting said bracketfor aligning the said orifices in said bracket and said bushing.

3. In a device of the character described a mounting panel, a stub shaftsu ported by said panel, a control shaft, a brac et secured to saidpanel and provided with an orifice through which said control shaftextends, a bushing secured to said stub shaft, an orifice in saidbushing adapted to receive said control shaft, adjustable means for saidbracket for aligning the said orifices in said bracket and bushing and afront adjustable support for said bracket.

4. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a stubshaft rotatably supported by said anel, a control shaft, a bracketsecured to sai panel and provided with an orifice through which saidcontrol shaft extends, a bushing secured to said stub shaft, an orificein said bushing adapted to receive said control shaft to connect thesame with said stub shaft, adjustable means for said bracket foraligning the said orifices in said bracket and said bushing and a frontadjustable support for said bracket.

5. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a bearingsecured to said panel, a stub shaft rotatably supported in said bearing,a control shaft, a bracket secured to said panel provided with anorifice through which said control shaft extends, a bushing secured tosaid stub shaft, an orifice in said bushing adapted to receive saidcontrol shaft to connect the same with said stub shaft and spring meanssupported on said stub shaft to take up longitudinal play of the same insaid bearing.

6. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a pluralityof contacts supported thereon, a bearing secured tosaid panel, a wiperand an arm, a stub shaft rotatably supported in said bearing to whichsaid wiper and arm are secured, a control shaft, a bushing secured tosaid stub shaft having an orifice therein for receiving said controlshaft to connect the same with said stub shaft, and spring means suported on said stub shaft to take up longitu inal play thereof in saidbearing as the said stab shaft is rotated to revent the said wipersbeing moved out of t eir normal path as they pass over said contacts.

7. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a pluralitof contacts supported thereon, a stub sha rotatably supported in saidbearings, a wiper and arm secured to said shaft, a control shaft, abushing secured to said stub shaft having an orifice therein forreceiving said control shaft to connect the same with said stub shaft, awasher supported on said stub shaft and fingers formed integrallytherewith roviding spring means to take up longitudina play of the saidstub shaft in said hearing as the same is rotated to prevent the saidwiper being moved out of its normal path of travel as it passes oversaid contacts. 4

8. In a device of the character described,

a mounting panel, a plurality of contacts supported thereon, a bearingsecured to said panel, a stub shaft rotatably supported in said bearing,a Wiper and arm secured to said shaft, a control shaft, a bracketsecured to said panel provided with an orifice through which saidcontrol shaft extends, a bushing secured to said stub shaft having anorifice therein adapted to receive said control shaft to connect thesame with said stub shaft, adjustable means for said bracket foraligning the said orifices in said bracket and said bushing and s'pringmeans su ported on said stub shaft to take up longitu inal lay thereofin said bearing to prevent said Wipers from being moved out of theirnormal path as said stub shaft is rotated as they pass over saidcontacts.

9. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, a pluralityof contacts supported thereon, a rotatable shaft supported on the saidpanel, a wiper carried by said shaft, said wiper being adapted to engagesaid contacts, an arcuate member joined to said arm, a ball resting inan orifice in said bracket, said arcuate member having notches thereincorresponding to said contacts, a spring secured to said bracket forpressing said ball into successive notches in said depending member assaid wiper is rotated toengage successive contacts to produce a snapaction and an adjustable screw engaging said spring to regulate thetension of said spring.

10. In a device of the character described, a mounting panel, aplurality of contacts supported thereon, a rotatable shaft su ported onthe said panel, a Wiper carried by said shaft, said wiper being adaptedto en age said contacts, an arcuate member being xed to said arm, abracket secured to said panel, a ball bearing resting in an orifice insaid bracket, an arcuate member having notches therein, a leaf springsecured to said bracket for pressing said ball bearing into successiveSeptember,

notches in said depending member as said Wiper is rotated to engagesuccessive contacts, a. screw 'adjustably supported by said bracket, areduced portion on said screw and a slot in said spring receiving saidreduced portion.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,this 4th day of FRED E. FREERS.

